Midi Messages In-Depth

Session KeyStudio 25 User Guide

Program & Bank Changes

When the MIDI standard was first established, it enabled the user to access only 128 different sounds using program change messages (0-127). As MIDI devices grew to be more sophisticated and contain more sounds, bank change messages were included in an updated MIDI specification to allow for more than 128 sounds to be accessed.

"ANK -3"

"ANK ,3"

0ROGRAM

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The language MIDI uses to communicate between musical instruments only allows for program change commands 0-127, for a total of 128 possible programs (127 programs + program

“0” = 128 programs total). Because of inherent limitations of the MIDI communication protocol, the number of directly accessible programs (using program change messages) cannot easily be expanded beyond 128. Thus, a system of banks, with 128 sounds in each, has been created that enables manufacturers to overcome the 128-sound MIDI limit.

128 Banks with 128 sounds in each bank is the basic principle used to expand the number of accessible sounds. However, to avoid reaching the new limit of the resulting 16,384 possible sounds (128 banks x 128 programs) accessible using a bank change combined with a program change, another layer of banks was added. The result is a system of 128 banks that can contain 128 sub- banks in each of them, which, in turn, can contain 128 sounds (programs) within them.Bank change messages are useful when calling up sounds from a large library that may exist in a particular sound module or software synth. For example devices that are built with Roland’s GS specification or Yamaha’s XG specification require you to specify

"ANKN-3""

"ANKN,3""

0ROGRAMG

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0ROGRAMG

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0ROGRAMG

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a bank change in order to access the extra voices and effects that these devices provide.

"ANKN-3"""ANKN,3""

0ROGRAMG 0ROGRAMG 0ROGRAMG

0ROGRAMG

MIDI CC 0 is the bank select MSB (Most Significant Byte) message. This MIDI message is 7-bit in size and can be used to select any of 128 banks. This message can be used in conjunction with MIDI

CC32 which is bank select LSB (Least Significant Byte): a separate 7-bit message allowing additional selection of any of another 128 sub-banks. The combination of Bank MSB and LSB messages gives a 14-bit message that can select any of a possible 16,384 banks. Each bank can in turn contain 128 possible sounds selected via a separate program change MIDI message. This enables a user to theoretically recall over two million programs directly, using only MIDI commands. However, most devices only use a few different banks, and allow you to access them with either a Bank LSB message or a Bank MSB message. Please consult your synthesizer’s or software’s documentation for more information on which type of bank change messages they can process.”

Session KeyStudio 25 User Guide